At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and coordinate key initiatives for the Target Operating Model programme.
- Company: Join a dynamic organisation focused on youth welfare and improvement.
- Benefits: Generous pension, healthcare plan, 25 days holiday, and additional leave.
- Other info: Fixed term contract until March 2028 with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while working from home with some travel.
- Qualifications: Experience in delivery initiatives and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40210 - 47306 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 14 June 2026
Department: Operations England
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time
Location: Home based / with some regional travel
Compensation: £40,210 - £47,306 / year
We’re looking for a proactive Delivery Manager to drive delivery across our Target Operating Model programme. You’ll lead and coordinate key initiatives, ensuring momentum and high-quality outcomes across the COO directorate. Working closely with the TOM Project Team, you’ll collaborate across teams to plan, deliver and embed improvement activity.
You will be involved in the following areas:
- Delivery
- Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of agreed project outputs/initiatives.
- Produce key project deliverables and undertake activity to validate these.
- Ensure actions remain on track, proactively identifying slippage and mobilising support where needed.
- Champion a solution‑focused, iterative approach to improvement work.
- Facilitate open communication, shared problem‑solving, and joint ownership of deliverables.
- Ensure each deliverable has a consistent approach and systematic process including setup, scoping, and prioritisation, delivery, testing, iteration, completion, evaluation, close‑out reporting.
- Governance & Reporting
- Liaison between wider COO Directorate and the TOM Leads Group.
- Work with the Senior Project Manager to prepare and deliver progress updates, risks, issues, and decisions required.
- Keeping TOM Project Leads regularly updated and informed of progress and any significant changes/challenges.
- Ensuring the use of all data and information is used in line with appropriate DofE policies including appropriate Use of IT Systems Policy.
- Ensure all initiatives and workstreams have been appropriately reviewed and approved by the TOM Leads group.
- Scope & Prioritisation
- Prioritise, plan and action work to deliver agreed outputs from TOM Project with Project Leads.
- Ensuring delivery is in line with project plan and timeline.
- Escalate items requiring out‑of‑scope decisions or resource impacts.
- Risk, Issue & Dependency Management
- Ensuring any initiatives have an appropriate communication and training plan, drafting and liaising as appropriate.
- Monitor risks and issues, ensuring timely escalation where delivery timelines, scope, quality and other significant risks identified.
- Propose mitigation options and support decision‑making where appropriate.
- Evaluation
- Coordinate final impact evaluation, gathering evidence of outcomes and benefits on workstreams as appropriate.
- Produce a summary report, outlining achievements, insights, and recommendations if there is need to further iteration or longer‑term improvements.
Key Deliverables
- Prioritised plan and action deliverables that come from the TOM Project Workstreams in agreement with the TOM Project Leads.
- Governance updates to TOM Leads Group.
- Delivery of agreed initiatives completed in line with TOM Project plan.
- Final summary report with impact assessment and next‑step recommendations as appropriate.
What we are looking for:
- Experience leading delivery or improvement initiatives.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Confident communicator with experience engaging senior stakeholders.
- Skilled in problem solving and using data to inform decisions.
- Experience managing risks, issues, and dependencies.
- Proactive, adaptable, and delivery‑focused.
Desirable
- Understanding of service design or process improvement.
- Experience in non‑profit, education, or youth sectors.
This is fixed term contract until March 2028. This position will be based from home and may require regional travel through the UK.
Benefits
We offer excellent staff benefits including a generous pension contribution, an employee assistance programme, healthcare cash plan and volunteer leave. Also, 25 days holiday, plus Bank Holidays and an additional 3 days paid leave between Christmas and the New Year. Buy additional annual leave, benefits discount website, death in service benefit 4 x salary, incapacity benefit, generous family leave and sick leave.
The DofE are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All successful applicants will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, including references covering any gaps of employment/education, confirm eligibility to work in the UK and complete a health check.
The geographical allowance is based on a member of staff having a home or office‑based postcode within 30 miles (as the crow flies) from Charing Cross, WC2N 5HS. The allowance is 7% capped at £4,000 per annum.
Delivery Manager (Target Operating Model Project) employer: The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
As a Delivery Manager at our organisation, you will thrive in a supportive and dynamic work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With a generous benefits package including a robust pension scheme, healthcare cash plan, and ample holiday leave, we are committed to fostering a positive work-life balance. Our home-based role with regional travel offers the flexibility to manage your own schedule while contributing to meaningful projects that impact young people's lives.
Contact Details:
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Delivery Manager (Target Operating Model Project)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work in delivery management or related fields. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios specific to delivery management. Think about how you would handle project slippage or stakeholder communication – we want you to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills during interviews. Use real examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed risks or improved processes. This is your chance to demonstrate your proactive approach!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Delivery Manager (Target Operating Model Project)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in delivery management and improvement initiatives. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your key experiences and skills. Remember, clarity is key!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:As a Delivery Manager, you'll need to engage with various stakeholders. Use your application to demonstrate your confident communication style. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with teams or managed stakeholder expectations in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
✨Know Your Project Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Target Operating Model project details. Understand its goals, key deliverables, and how it aligns with the COO directorate's objectives. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience can drive delivery and improvement.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've managed multiple priorities in past roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, highlighting your ability to keep projects on track and meet deadlines.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare to talk about your experience in engaging senior stakeholders. Think of instances where you facilitated open communication or problem-solving sessions. This will demonstrate your confidence and ability to champion a solution-focused approach.
✨Discuss Risk Management Tactics
Be prepared to discuss how you've identified and managed risks in previous projects. Share examples of how you proposed mitigation options and supported decision-making, showcasing your proactive and adaptable nature.